Demise

Tali couldn't believe it. Garrus was being such an idiot. That seemed to be a trait all males shared regardless of species. It wasn't like she was asking him to do something that he hadn't done before so Tali couldn't see what was so difficult about it. If anything she could be the one who would get hurt. Bites weren't painless, though if she was honest with herself Tali couldn't even remember when Garrus first bit her.

When Tali had gotten to the Citadel, Liara had vouched for her at C-Sec saving her a few hours of interview time. Being a Spectre's wife had its perks and Liara wasn't above using them. The pair then spotted their Spectre's headed to their respective homes. Liara had to scamper back quickly to be home before Shepard while Tali hung back, tailing Garrus.

Eventually she followed him to his place. He was so exhausted from his mission he didn't notice her come in after him. When she finally got the courage to disturb him in the shower the results were not what she expected. Losing it in the shower hadn't been her plan but she didn't complain.

Somewhere in the next few days Tali gained very intimate knowledge about the Turian body. In their time on the Normandy the most either of them of them saw of each other was faces. Garrus's feathers were a surprised. Post coitus, Tali loved to stroke them while they cuddled. Tali could see why Garrus liked stroking her hair. It had a soothing effect and was a nice gesture of affection.

His skin was so smooth. It was made of tough scales, so different from her own soft skin. He didn't bruise nearly as easily as she did. Turian coupling was a lot rougher than "soft body" mating as Garrus had called it. When Garrus had brought Tali to see Dr. Michelle, the doctor had asked if Tali had been beaten. Such was the extent of her bruising and scratches.

Then there was the bite mark. At first Tali hadn't thought much of it until she asked Garrus why he had done it. When he was reluctant to answer she had had to drag the answer out of him. The fact that biting was a Turian way of marking mates complicated matters.

Tali was happy at first. The bite was an answer to her own doubts and unasked questions about why she was there and if she could stay. Until she found out that there was more to the mating marks. Maybe it was vanity. Maybe it was insecurity or jealousy but Tali wanted that second mark. That would be a true sign of where she stood in Garrus's life and priorities. Sure no one else would ever see the marks because of her biosuit but it was the thought that matter.

Polygamy was not a Quarian custom but it was Turian. Just the thought that there might one day be another woman with two marks was painful. So when Garrus refused to give her the second mark it had been the start of this now 5 week long argument. All because he said the first bite had been a mistake made in the heat of the moment. They hadn't spoken since. Not even in their language of signs.

Things didn't get any better once Garrus came back. They hadn't talked for the first few hours, instead succumbing to their need for each other caused by the Spectre's absence. It was when they were cuddling afterwards that the second stage of their epic fight began.

Garrus offered to give Tali what she wanted, that second bite mark. However there was a catch and it had been that catch that had caused all the problems. Garrus would bite her if they saw Dr. Michelle soon afterwards and only if they did whatever the Quarian equivalent was to mating bites.

Tali had balked at that. More out of shock and sudden understanding than everything else. Thinking about things in terms of Turian culture somehow not made it set in her mind. She had basically been trying to force Garrus to make her his wife in Turian terms.

The Quarian equal to mating bites were decorative wrist bands. Given that a large number of Quarians opted to stay in their biosuits, matching wrist bands let other people know who was married to whom. Tali had her parents wedding bands. They still sat in the small square container that her father had given her just before she left.

Having the Turian term of "mate" equate out to Quarian "marriage" had been what made Tali stall. Her memories of marriage weren't the best. Her parents hadn't seemed that happy with each other. Her father's career had over shadowed his home life shunting her mother into the background so that Tali could barely remember her and distanced herself from her father. That is what marriage meant to her and Tali really didn't want that to happen between Garrus and herself.

And so their relationship finally came to an impasse. Neither was going to yield first. Their pride would not allow it. Garrus refused to take Tali as his mate without getting married as well and Tali refused to consider the idea of marriage all together and just wanted to be mates.

To Tali, the idea of being bound together as mates just seemed more intimate than getting married. You could get divorced if you were married but you can't unmate your mate.

With the relationship unable to move forwards things cooled off some between Garrus and Tali. He kept away with Spectre missions and Tali kept busy doing odd jobs around the Citadel. Their relationship over the next 6 months dissolved from hot lovers to friends with benefits to just friends.

In hindsight, it was exactly what they needed but at the time Tali felt betrayed somehow. She had left everything for him and he had led her on only to seemingly drop her as a romantic interest. True they still maintained their friendship and that had grown a great deal now that they spent their time talking as opposed to being otherwise occupied.

However it did cause Tali to reexamine what Garrus had said to her. Maybe she had just been blinded by her youth and want for adventure. Maybe she had just used Garrus as a living embodiment of what she wanted; to be free of the Flotilla and her father's influence. Maybe she really was just rebelling and had used him because he had reciprocated her feelings at one time.

If that was the case Tali felt bad. Garrus had had to make a lot of adjustment to accommodate her in his life. His quarters had been changed extensively. A disinfect chamber in the entrance, additional closet space, a bigger bed, a billion pillows on the bed. Though the pillows were a human female custom. According to Liara, Shepard had said it was the females right and duty to arrange the sleeping area and multiple pillows was a staple in a married home.

On the other hand, Tali really believed she had left the Flotilla for the right reasons or rather reason; him. In her opinion things just got moving too fast and she had pushed him too far. So she would be patient and wait faithfully for him to come to his senses. After all, she wasn't going anywhere anytime soon. Or so she thought.

A/N: Okay I know it has been a long time but it really isn't my fault. Honestly. Work took up a couple weeks and then doing all the stuff I had to do to finalize the end of my service took up the rest. The only reason you guys are getting this pathetically short chapter is because I had such long layovers trying to get home. I promise that Garrus's next chapter will be longer. Thanks to those that review. And thanks to all of you that put this story down as a fave story of yours. I think I have more faves then reviews at this point actually.

Oh in case anyone is wondering. Yes they sort of broke up. (Please note that the author had run away to his super secret bomb shelter at this time.) It had to happen. Garrus will mull out the reasoning next chapter. That and have an actual conversation (GASP, dialogue!) in thenext chapter with our favorite Krogan. I think you guys will like what I do with them. Lastly, I nowly foresee a couple of chapters to come. I have a smashing ending. I just have to get Tali and Garrus ready for it. Now click the little review button…